10 Simple Ways To De-Stress And Improve Your Immune System

PINECREST, FL - OCTOBER 18: Dawn Moreno shops for yogurt as she enjoys the grand opening of a Trader Joe's on October 18, 2013 in Pinecrest, Florida. Trader Joe's opened its first store in South Florida where shoppers can now take advantage of the California grocery chains low-cost wines and unique items not found in other stores. About 80 percent of what they sell is under the Trader Joe's private label. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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We all know by now that stress weakens our immune system, increasing our vulnerability to chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Fortunately, we can take measures to counter the negative impact of stress by making simple lifestyle changes and watching the way we eat. After all, scientists now acknowledge that the gut is the "second brain" of the body. A happy, healthy gut can improve our immunity and make us less vulnerable to diseases like diabetes, obesity, chronic fatigue, heart disease, high BP, stroke, arthritis and even some cancers. Researchers believe 90% of serotonin (the feel good chemical of the body) is produced in the gut. Also 60-70% of our immune system is located in our gut.

The value of fresh food cannot be stressed enough. Knowing the miles your food has travelled from farm to table is important as the nutritive value of the food starts to go down as the time and miles travelled increase. Add fresh herbs and fermented foods in your diet to boost your digestive health. Take supplements on a need basis, but they are no replacement for healthy, fresh, clean produce.

3. Time your meals well

Plan ahead and never make the mistake of attacking food when starving. Most people do well on eating 5-6 times a day.

The hazardous effects of a sedentary lifestyle are well documented and it isn't enough to simply work out a few times a week since long spells of sitting can be harmful to your health. Even if you're occupied in desk work, make sure you get up every hour for a five-minute walk up and down the corridor or to a nearby park if possible.

Lack of deep and enough sleep can cause irritability, sugar cravings and also reduce immunity. On the other hand, ensuring that you get your eight hours will boost your mood, improve brain function and even help in weight management along with various other benefits. Try to factor in naps or breaks during the day to bump up your energy levels and also improve your immune function.

7. Check if your tongue and poop are 'clean'

Checking for a clean tongue and perfect poop should be part of your and your family's daily regime. And no it's not gross. Making sure that all is well on both ends will inform you a lot about your gut health and thus immunity.

8. Learn to relax

Practices to reduce mental stress increase your body's immunity. The better you feel about yourself in mind the better your body responds. So indulge in practices like meditation, listening to calming music and practicing gratitude. Also different kinds of massages are available to activate the lymphatic system, which is an important part of the immune system.

9. Cut down on chemicals

As far as possible, use natural products rather than those loaded with chemicals in your self-care and home-care regimen. Remember that your skin is the largest organ and what you put on it does get absorbed. The more chemicals you load it with whether on your hair, lips, face or the whole body, you are not only stressing your body but are also risking lowering your immunity as now your body has to fight more to stay healthy.